233067
231312
WHL  

Rockets get PG sweep

The Kelowna Rockets are on their way home with four valuable points in their back pocket.

The Rockets completed a sweep of back-to-back games in Prince George Saturday, earning a 6-4 victory. The win came after the Rockets edged past the Cougars 4-3 in overtime the night before.

The story of this game was Brodan Salmond who earned his first Western Hockey League win in his first WHL start.

Salmond turned away 30 shots, the most important two coming moments after the Cougars had clawed their way to within a goal with tallies 13 seconds apart.

The Rockets called a time out after the second to let Salmond catch his breath. The Rockets shut the game down the rest of the way.

Justin Kirkland scored twice for the Rockets while Tyson Baillie had a goal and two helpers.

Dillon Dube, Cole Linaker and Tate Coughlin also scored for the Rockets. Calvin Thurkauf chipped in with a pair of assists.

The Rockets never trailed, holding period leads of 2-1 and 4-2. Kirkland's second of the night midway through the third gave the Rickets a three goal lead, but goals seconds apart just seconds later brought the Cougars to within a goal.

Baillie sealed it with his 32nd of the season with five minutes left.

Neither team had any luck on the power-play, however, the Rockets did get a shorthanded goal from Linaker to make it 2-1 in the final minute of the first.

The Rockets needed the win Saturday to remain atop the WHL standings. Kelowna is two points up on both Lethbridge and Victoria.

Both teams play Sunday.

The Rockets don't return to action until Tuesday when they host the Red Deer Rebels.



More WHL articles



231274